Celebrities congratulate Leylah Fernandez after amazing US Open run

Sep 12 2021, 3:17 pm

Though Leylah Fernandez didn’t end her US Open run on top, support still came pouring in for the 19-year-old Canadian on Saturday.

Fernandez fell 6-4, 6-3 to 18-year-old British player Emma Raducanu in yesterday’s singles final.

It was the most unlikely final matchup you could really imagine. Fernandez entered the tournament 73rd in the WTA rankings, while Raducanu came in ranked 150th.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Fernandez made Canada proud:

The Toronto Raptors and Montreal Canadiens gave Fernandez a shoutout:

And Fernandez even got some royal praise from Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as Queen Elizabeth II herself.

British actor Stephen Fry congratulated both Raducanu and Fernandez for their poise under pressure of the moment.

And former CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge may have summed up Fernandez’s performance best with a simple four-word tweet.

Earlier in the tournament, athletes such as Canadian Olympic racewalker Evan Dunfee, as well as basketball stars Steve Nash (who was a frequent fixture in the crowd for Fernandez matches at the US Open) and Magic Johnson had shown their support.

Meanwhile, several tennis legends showed praise to Fernandez.

Genie Bouchard, who was the first Canadian to make a Grand Slam singles final in 2014 at Wimbledon, also found it “humbling” to say that Fernandez was inspired by her.

Adam LaskarisAdam Laskaris

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